Carrousel mounted microfiche magazine

ABSTRACT

A magazine for a plurality of microfiche adapted to be selectively associated with and to become a part of a carrousel holding a plurality of microfiche which are individually code identified for random access storage and retrieval of the microfiche from the magazine and carrousel. The magazine is substantially segment-shaped and comprises a carrousel supported and microfiche supporting body portion and a cover therefor which is removed to provide access to the microfiche therein. The body portion has means at the narrow end of the segment which interlocks with the carrousel to mount the magazine thereon.

United States Patent 11 1 Nix et a1.

[ July 24, 1973 CARROUSEL-MOUNTED MICROFICHE MAGAZINE [7 51 Inventors:William 0. Nix, Newport Beach;

Timothy P. Fitzgerald, Los Angeles, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Image Systems Inc., Culver City,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 197,235

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 056,537,July 20, 1970,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl 209/805, 220/23.4, 312/59, 312/197 [51] Int. Cl. B07c 5/34[58] Field of Search 209/72, 80.5, 110.5;

[56] References Cited,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,283,761 11/1966 Clover 209/1105 l l l 13,425,566 2/1969 Maziarka 312/59 X 3,514,769 5/1970 Woods 209/805 X3,630,354 12/1971 OBrien 209/805 Primary Examiner-Richard A. SchacherAttorney--Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee & Utecht [57] ABSTRACT Amagazine for a plurality of microfiche adapted to be selectivelyassociated with and to become a part of a carrousel holding a pluralityof microfiche which are individually code identified for random accessstorage and retrieval of the microfiche from the magazine and carrousel.The magazine is substantially segmentshaped and comprises a carrouselsupported and microfiche supporting body portion and a cover thereforwhich is removed to provide access to the microfiche therein. The bodyportion has means at the narrow end of the segment which interlocks withthe carrousel to mount the magazine thereon.

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented July 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w MN 3 mm MMWfl Mm M4 M CARROUSEL-MOUNTED MICROFICIIE MAGAZINE This is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 056,537, filed July 20, 1970, andnow abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. This invention relates to the field ofstorage and retrieval of microfiche mounted in carrousels.

2. The mounting of a plurality of microfiche in a drum-like carrouselrotating on a vertical axis and in which the microfiche are supported ina single large compartment or in a plurality of individual compartmentscircumferentially located around the drum is well known in the art, anexample being shown in the patent to Eugene H. Irasek, U.S. Pat. No.3,429,436. The magazines of that patent interlock with the carrousel butare not adapted for individual enclosure and storage exterior to therotating drum or carrousel. The magazzine of the present invention has acover directly associated therewith to enclose the microfiche forsupport and exterior storage in the closed magazine which, when mountedin the carrousel, has its cover removed to expose the microfiche toaccess and retrieval. The magazine has a more secure interlocking withthe carrousel and only a limited arcuate portion of the carrouselreceives the magazines for selective placement and replacement of themicrofiche therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The rotating drum or carrousel in which themicrofiche are located in radial planes within radially extendingcompartments provides access to the microfiche at their forward edgesfor selection and retrieval. An angular portion of the carrouselcorresponding to the angular widths of several of the magazines isprovided with means interlocking with the magazines to mount them in theangular carrousel portion for ready placement and replacement and readyincorporation of the microfiche in the magazines in the total storagecapac ity of the carrousel. The magazines are substantially segmentiallyshaped and comprise body portions open at the front and partially at thetop, and having side walls converging towards the back where theyterminate as an integral, generally flat wall having interlocking meanssuch as a female dovetail part at the upper portion of the back. The topwall of the body portion has an integral slotted lug extending upwardlytherefrom to be engaged by a locking cam on the cover.

The cover has short side walls complementary to the inclined side wallsof the body portion, an open bottom and top wall which cooperate withthe top wall on the body portion to enclose the magazine thereat. A camis pivotally mounted on the top wall of the cover for rotation about avertical axis and includes a notched flange entering the slot in the lugon the top of the body portion whereby the cover is locked to the bodyportion. The cam has a generally U-shaped handle integral with andextending upwardly therefrom and providing means for lifting andmanipulating the closed magazine as it is transferred between thecarrousel and a storage point.

The carrousel is provided with a flat bottom surface against which thebottoms of the body portions of the magazines rest, and with angularlydisposed male dovetail parts adapted to cooperate with the femaledovetail parts on the body portions of the magazines to locate themagazines securely in interlocked positions on the carrousel.

Preferably, the mounting of a magazine in the carrousel is effected withthe cover of the magazine locked to its body portion so that themicrofiche are held within the magazine against involuntary movementtherefrom as might occur were the cover removed prior to mounting thebody portion of the magazine and the microfiche in the carrousel. Afterthe cover magazine is secured in the carrousel, the cam is turned tounlock the cover, and it may then be removed to expose the forward edgesof the microfiche for access and retrieval.

The main body of the carrousel where the permanent compartments arelocated serves for the storage of microfiche which are to be relativelypermanently associated with the carrousel, and the magazines may supportadditional microfiche which are to be associated with the carrouselrelatively temporarily or for short periods. Any carrousel-mountedmagazine body portion and microfiche can be readily replaced with othermagazines and microfiche therein, with the body portion and coversecurely holding the microfiche in the magazine during movement betweenthe carrousel and a storage point, and securing the microfiche withinthe magazine at the storage point against loss or damage thereto.

The magazine arrangement further permits classification of relatedmicrofiche in a group for ready place ment and replacement in thecarrousel, and for safe storage of the microfiche outside the carrouselagainst loss or damage. The magazines may be stored on shelves or onrotatable racks and may be locked in a vault or fireproof cabinet.

The magazines may be made of any desired material, a satisfactory onebeing a moldable plastic such as high inpact strength styrene, or thelike. With the use of interchangeable magazines, unlimited externalstorage is provided by the microfiche therein since there is no limit tothe number of magazines which can be externally stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acarrousel having a magazine body portion positioned therein and a closedmagazine about to be mounted therein;

FIG. 2 is a partial plari view of the carrousel with a pair of magazinestherein, one of which has its cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a radial sectional view through a magazine;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an individual magazine; and

FIG. 5 is a back elevational view of the magazine in the direction ofthe arrow 5 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT micro-images thereon and havingmagnetic front edges 17 which are notched in an identity code so thateach microfiche will be identified by the location of the coding notchestherein in accordance with any desired systern.

The carrousel 11 is provided with a relatively large angular compartmentbetween radially extending walls 18 and 19, and it is within thisangular compartment that the removable and replaceable magazines may belocated. Adjacent the top of the angular compartment 20 is mounted anarcuate supporting member 21 rigid with the bottom plate 12 and top disc13 to rotate therewith and with the carrousel. The arcuate supportingmember 21 has male dovetail parts 22 facing forwardly thereof whichcooperate with rearward facing female dovetail parts in the upperportion of the back walls of the magazines.

Each magazine 23 comprises a body portion 24 supporting microfiche 26therein and a cover 25 which cooperates with the body portion 24 toenclose the microfiche 26 so that they may be transported and storedwithout danger of loss or damage. The body portion 24 has a pair ofangularly disposed side walls 27 and 28 interconnected by a bottom wall29, a narrow back wall 31 and a partial top wall 32. The body portion 24is shown as having a generally segmental shape with side walls 27 and 28converging towards the back where they are joined by the narrow backwall 31. Integral with the wall 31 is a thickened upper portion 32 whichhas a female dovetail part 34 therein adapted to secure one of the maledovetail parts 22 of the arcuate support 21 on the carrousel.

The cover 25 has a pair of short side walls 35 and 36 interconnected bya front wall and a'rearwardly extending top wall 37 but having an openbottom at 38. The side walls 'and 36 are angularly disposed tocomplement the side walls 27 and 28 of the body portion 24 so that thecover 25 slides onto the body portion 24 in a longitudinal direction,from the top as viewed in the figures.

The top wall 32 of the body portion 24 has an integral lug 39 extendingupwardly therefrom in which there is a horizontally disposed slot 40. Inthe top wall 37 of the cover 25 is an opening 50 through which the lug39 on the body portion extends with its slot 40 positioned with itslower surface concident with the surface of the top wall of the cover.On the top wall of the cover in alignment with the opening is rotatablymounted a notched, flat cam 41 by a pin 43. The cam 41 has an upwardlyextending, generally U-shaped, integral hanof the slot 40 in the lug 39.The cam 41 has an arcuate notch 44 therein which clears the lug 39 onthe body portion 24. Thus, when the cam 41 is turned so that the notch44 is opposite the lug 39, the cover 25 may be readily removedlongitudinally of the body portion 24 until the side walls 35 and 36 ofthe cover 25 leave the side walls 27 and 28 of the body portion 24,whereupon the cover is entirely separated therefrom, as is the case ofthe body portion 24A of FIG. 1 mounted in operating position in thecarrousel ll.

lfit is desired to insert a new magazine in the carrousel 11, a magazinewhich is no longer in use is removed, as will be hereinafter explained,and then a new magazine with its cover 25 locked to its body portion 24and having the classification of microfiche which it is desired toretrieve stored therein, is taken from whatever storage location it maybe in and brought to the carrousel 11, as indicated in FIG. 1. The cover25 is preferably left locked to the body portion 24 while the bodyportion is being mounted in the carrousel 11, thus preventinginvoluntary movement of the microfiche out of the body portion of themagazine with attendant scattering and possible damage to themicrofiche. The closed magazine 23 is moved into the large angularopening 20 of the carrousel by gripping the magazine 23 in any desiredway, but preferably by the handle 42. The magazine 23 is thenmanipulated so that the bottom of the female dovetail part 34 in theback wall 31 of the body portion 24 receives the top of a male dovetailpart 22 on the arcuate support 21 in the carrousel and the magazine isthen moved vertically downwardly until its bottom wall 29 engages thebottom wall 12 of the carrousel. The new magazine is thereby firmlymounted in position within the angular chamber 20 and the cover 25 isnow removed by rotating the cam 41 by the handle 42 until the notch 44is opposite the lug 39, whereupon the cover may be vertically raisedfrom the body portion 24 and placed in a storage position. With removalof the cover 25, the microfiche 26 in the body portion 24 are accessiblefor retrieval, as in the body portion 24A of FIG. 1, in the samerelative position in the rotatable carrousel 11 as are the relativelypermanent microfiche 17 in the compartments 15.

To remove a magazine body portion 24 from the carrousel, for example thebody portion 24A of FIG. 1, its cover 25 is preferably first mountedthereon to prevent possible slipping of the microfiche from the bodyportion with attendant scattering or damage thereto. A cover 25 is movedvertically downwardly onto the body portion 24 so that the cover legs 35and 36 receive therein forward edges of the legs 27 and 28 of the bodyportion 24. The cover is preferably so mounted with the cam 41 rotatedto place the notch 44 opposite the opening 50. When the cover is fullydown in the position of FIG. 3, the cam 41 is rotated by the handle 42so that it enters the slot 40 in the lug 39 and securely locks the cover25 on the body portion 24. The magazine 23 may then be lifted verticallyby the handle 42 until the male dovetail part 22 in the carrousel leavesthe female dovetail part 34 on the magazine, whereupon the magazine maybe bodily removed from the carrousel and placed in its storage location.

The number of microfiche 17 which may be relatively permanently storedin the carrousel 11 is, of course, limited by the space provided in thecompartments 15. However, the total storage capacity of the magazines 23is substantially unlimited, since any number of them may be externallystored. Therefore, with the present invention, the capacity of thecarrousel 11 is amplified to an unlimited extent by having thereplaceable magazines 23 mountable therein. In ordinary operation, themicrofiche 17 in the compartments 15 will be those which are most in useand are relatively permanently located within the carrousel. Likewise,the microfiche 26 within the magazines 23 are those which are used onlyat intervals so that they can be conveniently removed from the carrouseland stored external thereto, whereby not to occupy space in and limitthe capacity of the carrousel for regularly used microfiche. Themagazine of this invention securely holds the microfiche enclosedagainst damage while stored and also while being transported betweenstorage and the carrousel, and the mounting of the microfiche supportingbody portion of the magazine in the carrousel with its cover in placesecurely holds the microfiche within the magazine against possiblescattering and damage. When located in the carrousel, the cover 25 maybe readily removed from the body portion 24, leaving the microfiche 26in position for access and retrieval in the same manner as themicrofiche 17 in the permanent compartments 15.

While the carrousel 11 has been illustrated and described as mounting aplurality of magazines 23 in a large angular compartment 20, it will beunderstood that a plurality of compartments may be spaced around thecarrousel, at, for example, 120 apart, and each compartment may hold oneor more magazines. It is also contemplated within the invention that theentire carrousel may be made up of removable magazines without anypermanent compartments 15.

While a certain preferred embodiment of the invention has beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it will be understoodthat the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is to be givenits broadest interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

We claim:

I. A magazine for microfiche comprising:

a substantially segmentshaped body portion having angularly disposedside walls interconnected by a bottom wall, a relatively narrow backwall, and at least a partial top wall, said walls being dimensioned toprovide a chamber for a plurality of microfiche;

means on said body portion for mounting it in a carrousel for access andretrieval of the microfiche therein from the front;

a cover for said body portion providing at least a partial top wall anda front wall cooperating with the body portion walls to enclose themicrofiche therein; and

means for releasably holding said cover on said body portion.

2. The magazine defined in claim 1 in which said means for mounting thebody portion in the carrousel is located on the back wall thereof so asnot to interfere with like magazines mounted therebeside in thecarrousel.

3. The magazine defined in claim 1 including:

partial side walls on said cover angularly disposed complementary to theangular disposition of the side walls of the body portion and spaced soas to closely fit over the body portion side walls.

4. The magazine defined in claim 1 in which said holding meanscomprises:

a lug projecting upwardly from the top wall on said body portion;

an opening in the top wall of said cover receiving said lug; and

means on the cover top wall interlocking with said lug to hold the coverin place on the body portion.

5. The magazine defined in claim 4 in which said cover interlockingmeanscomprises:

a rotatable cam plate mounted on the top wall of the cover and having anotch therein clearing said lug; and

means rotatably mounting said cam plate so that it can be projected intoa slot located transversely in the lug, thereby locking the cover to thebody portion.

6. The magazine defined in claim 5 in which:

said cover has an open bottom and partialside walls angularly disposedto embrace the side walls of the body portion so as to be assembledthereon by longitudinal relative movement between the cover and the bodyportion, adjacent the termination of which said lug projects through theopening in the top wall of the cover and is positioned for engagement ofthe cam plate in the slot in the lug upon rotation of the cam plate.

7. The magazine defined in claim 5, including:

a handle mounted on said cam plate for rotating it and also providingmeans for holding the magazine.

8. A carrousel comprising:

an annular body;

means for relatively permanently storing a plurality of microfiche insaid body in substantially vertical and radial positions;

a relatively large angular compartment in said body;

and

means in said relatively large compartment for replaceably mounting aplurality of body portions of the magazine defined in claim 1 therein,whereby, with covers removed, the body portions mount microfiche foraccess and retrieval from their forward edges in the same manner as forthe relatively permanent microfiche stored in the body of the earrousel.

9. The carrousel defined in claim 8 including:

a plurality of permanent compartments in said carrousel body angularlyspace-d therearound and provid-ing for the storing of said plurality ofmicrofiche therein.

10. The carrousel defined in claim 8 in which the mounting means for themagazine body portion comprises:

a dovetail part on the back wall thereof; and

a complementary dovetail part in the carrousel interlocking therewith tomount the body portion and the microfiche therein in the carrousel.

11. In a magazine for holding a plurality of microfiche for insertion inand removal from a microfiche retrieval machine, the combinationcomprising,

interconnected wall portions, said portions dimensioned to provide acontainer for holding a plurality of microfiche,

means for mounting said container in said microfiche retrieval machine,

removable cover means for said container, and,

means for releasably attaching said cover means to said container forpermitting said container to be lifted by the attached cover means forinsertion in and removal from the microfiche retrieval device.

12. The combination of claim Ill, wherein said interconnected wallportions comprise side wall portions interconnected by a bottom wallportion and a back wall portion.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said mounting means is on saidback wall portion.

14. In a magazine for holding a plurality of microfiche for insertion inand removal from a microfiche retrieval machine, the combinationcomprising,

interconnected wall portions, said portions dimensioned to provide acontainer for holding a plurality of microfiche,

means for mounting said container in said microfiche fiche for insertionin and removal from a microfiche rcretrieval machine, trieval machine,the combination comprising. a lug projecting upwardly from saidcontainer, interconnected wall portions, said portions dimenremovablecover means for said container, said cover sioned to provide a containerfor holding a plurality means having an opening for receiving said lug,and of microfiche and including segment-shaped botmeans on said covermeans for interlocking with said torn and top wall portionsinterconnected by angulug to hold the cover means on said container.larly disposed side wall portions and a back wall 15. The combination ofclaim 14, wherein: portion, said interconnected wall portions comprisesegmentmeans for mounting said container in said microfiche shapedbottom and top wall portions intercon- 10 retrieval machine, nected byangularly disposed side wall portions and removable cover means for saidcontainer, and

a back wall portion, and means for releasably attaching said cover meansto said mounting means is on said back wall portion. said container. 16.In a magazine for holding a plurality of micro-

1. A magAzine for microfiche comprising: a substantially segment-shapedbody portion having angularly disposed side walls interconnected by abottom wall, a relatively narrow back wall, and at least a partial topwall, said walls being dimensioned to provide a chamber for a pluralityof microfiche; means on said body portion for mounting it in a carrouselfor access and retrieval of the microfiche therein from the front; acover for said body portion providing at least a partial top wall and afront wall cooperating with the body portion walls to enclose themicrofiche therein; and means for releasably holding said cover on saidbody portion.
 2. The magazine defined in claim 1 in which said means formounting the body portion in the carrousel is located on the back wallthereof so as not to interfere with like magazines mounted therebesidein the carrousel.
 3. The magazine defined in claim 1 including: partialside walls on said cover angularly disposed complementary to the angulardisposition of the side walls of the body portion and spaced so as toclosely fit over the body portion side walls.
 4. The magazine defined inclaim 1 in which said holding means comprises: a lug projecting upwardlyfrom the top wall on said body portion; an opening in the top wall ofsaid cover receiving said lug; and means on the cover top wallinterlocking with said lug to hold the cover in place on the bodyportion.
 5. The magazine defined in claim 4 in which said coverinterlocking means comprises: a rotatable cam plate mounted on the topwall of the cover and having a notch therein clearing said lug; andmeans rotatably mounting said cam plate so that it can be projected intoa slot located transversely in the lug, thereby locking the cover to thebody portion.
 6. The magazine defined in claim 5 in which: said coverhas an open bottom and partial side walls angularly disposed to embracethe side walls of the body portion so as to be assembled thereon bylongitudinal relative movement between the cover and the body portion,adjacent the termination of which said lug projects through the openingin the top wall of the cover and is positioned for engagement of the camplate in the slot in the lug upon rotation of the cam plate.
 7. Themagazine defined in claim 5, including: a handle mounted on said camplate for rotating it and also providing means for holding the magazine.8. A carrousel comprising: an annular body; means for relativelypermanently storing a plurality of microfiche in said body insubstantially vertical and radial positions; a relatively large angularcompartment in said body; and means in said relatively large compartmentfor replaceably mounting a plurality of body portions of the magazinedefined in claim 1 therein, whereby, with covers removed, the bodyportions mount microfiche for access and retrieval from their forwardedges in the same manner as for the relatively permanent microfichestored in the body of the carrousel.
 9. The carrousel defined in claim 8including: a plurality of permanent compartments in said carrousel bodyangularly spaced therearound and provid-ing for the storing of saidplurality of microfiche therein.
 10. The carrousel defined in claim 8 inwhich the mounting means for the magazine body portion comprises: adovetail part on the back wall thereof; and a complementary dovetailpart in the carrousel interlocking therewith to mount the body portionand the microfiche therein in the carrousel.
 11. In a magazine forholding a plurality of microfiche for insertion in and removal from amicrofiche retrieval machine, the combination comprising, interconnectedwall portions, said portions dimensioned to provide a container forholding a plurality of microfiche, means for mounting said container insaid microfiche retrieval machine, removable cover means for saidcontainer, and, means for releasably attaching saiD cover means to saidcontainer for permitting said container to be lifted by the attachedcover means for insertion in and removal from the microfiche retrievaldevice.
 12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said interconnectedwall portions comprise side wall portions interconnected by a bottomwall portion and a back wall portion.
 13. The combination of claim 12,wherein said mounting means is on said back wall portion.
 14. In amagazine for holding a plurality of microfiche for insertion in andremoval from a microfiche retrieval machine, the combination comprising,interconnected wall portions, said portions dimensioned to provide acontainer for holding a plurality of microfiche, means for mounting saidcontainer in said microfiche retrieval machine, a lug projectingupwardly from said container, removable cover means for said container,said cover means having an opening for receiving said lug, and means onsaid cover means for interlocking with said lug to hold the cover meanson said container.
 15. The combination of claim 14, wherein: saidinterconnected wall portions comprise segment-shaped bottom and top wallportions interconnected by angularly disposed side wall portions and aback wall portion, and said mounting means is on said back wall portion.16. In a magazine for holding a plurality of microfiche for insertion inand removal from a microfiche retrieval machine, the combinationcomprising, interconnected wall portions, said portions dimensioned toprovide a container for holding a plurality of microfiche and includingsegment-shaped bottom and top wall portions interconnected by angularlydisposed side wall portions and a back wall portion, means for mountingsaid container in said microfiche retrieval machine, removable covermeans for said container, and means for releasably attaching said covermeans to said container.